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Vladimir Putin: Ms Matviyenko, it is a pleasure to see you and to congratulate you on the conclusion of the spring session.

I would like to thank you and all members of the upper house, the senators, for the good work which you did during the year that marked the 80^th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the Defender of the Fatherland Year.

I am aware that the upper chamber has been addressing priority tasks as they applied to structural shifts in the Russian economy and social issues which abound. To my knowledge, 190 draft laws have been approved in addition to the laws passed by the Duma, the lower house, and another 195 legislative initiatives have been introduced by members of the upper house to the State Duma. This extensive work has been and continues to be highly positive. I would like to thank you and all the senators for that.

Valentina Matvienko: Thank you very much, Mr Putin. You have always paid close attention to the work of the Federal Assembly, particularly the upper chamber.

We have completed the spring session. As always, it was a busy time, but everything went as planned. We worked in a measured and businesslike manner and fulfilled all our plans, which, as always, we put together in alignment with your Address to the Federal Assembly and the new objectives that you set.

Of course, our focus, as ever, was on supporting the objectives of the special military operation, and supporting our servicemen and their families. I would like to note that during the spring session, we passed an additional package of laws, some of which were proposed by senators, the Federation Council, which strengthen social protection for veterans and their families.

I want to thank you for issuing an executive order that allows a family member to travel free when accompanying a wounded soldier to their rehabilitation or medical treatment site. This is critically important. I had previously briefed you on this matter. Thank you once again for your support.

However, Mr Putin, it is not just about passing laws, but also about enforcing their strict implementation. That is why senators, during their regional workweeks and on your instruction, monitor how the rights of the participants in the special military operation and their families are being upheld. In case of violations or neglect, they respond promptly, ensuring rigorous parliamentary oversight.

We are working closely with the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation and Anna Tsivileva. You know, it has only been a year since the foundation was established, but today it is hard to imagine how we would have managed without such a crucial instrument and mechanism. Your decision to create this foundation was extremely timely and relevant, and life has proved that.

The legislative support for integrating the reunited territories of Donbass and Novorossiya is nearly complete. A total of 99 laws have been approved. Regional teams from these constituent entities are successfully addressing many issues within Russia’s legal framework without supervision.

However, reality is complex, and many practical issues arise that require assistance and coordination with ministries and federal agencies. We maintain constant contact with the leaders of the reunited territories and, through the Senatorial Integration Council, which includes Government representatives, we promptly find solutions and swiftly provide practical support when needed. They feel this support and greatly appreciate it.

Nearly one-third of the laws that we approved are socially important laws focused on social protections for citizens and, as you always emphasise, it remains our top priority. Importantly, not a single social obligation to our citizens has been breached. Regular inflation adjustments continue, and additional measures are being introduced, especially for families with children. Of the 98 laws passed during the spring session, more than a third directly benefit our citizens.

Senators have been highly active in lawmaking, as you mentioned, with 195 draft federal laws initiated either by the senators or jointly with State Duma deputies and submitted for consideration.

We continue using the days of the regions format in the Federation Council. Regions prepare thoroughly for these meetings, since they provide an opportunity for a comprehensive analysis of the socioeconomic development, challenges, and areas that need federal support. After discussions, we adopt Federation Council resolutions, which we coordinate with the Government, to provide targeted assistance across the regions. We also identify and share best practices across the regions.

We have held 11 Government Hour meetings which are not always smooth discussions, as some debates get sharp and contentious. But these meetings are valuable, because senators bring regional concerns (industry, the economy, energy) that they can address directly to ministers and get answers.

We have introduced open dialogues with ministers, where they meet with senators to exchange views and proposals.

Overall, we have strong working relations with the Government. As the chamber of the regions, we have no problem interacting with it.

Demography remains our key priority. I will not go into detail, since I provide updates regularly to you. The Demography Council, ministries, businesses, and universities are working on it. Public awareness is growing, forming what I would call a nationwide demographic movement reflecting the importance of this issue.

Allow me to focus on one particular issue. During your visit to Magnitogorsk, you highlighted one of the most pressing challenges – the trend of late childbirth, at 28–29 years of age. We consider it extremely important to place special emphasis on student families. Together with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education – and I must acknowledge here that Minister Valery Falkov has personally taken up this matter – alongside the community of university rectors, we have established non-reducible standards of support for student families. These represent the minimum threshold below which no institution should fall, while any additional measures will naturally be welcomed. This includes separate university allowances for mothers, dedicated family accommodation in student dormitories, and mother-and-child rooms to enable mothers to attend lectures.

Recently, we jointly organised and held the first Russian Festival of Student Families, which saw participation from student families across all regions. I must say, I am still deeply moved by what I witnessed: young, bright individuals who had already started families, many arriving with their children. The festival featured an exhibition of best practices from higher education institutions in supporting student families.

After reviewing all these initiatives, we agreed that such measures would not merely be replicated but would become the standard for all universities. The event took place at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, which presented its own projects – demonstrating how student family accommodation and childcare rooms should be designed. We also agreed to involve students with free time as volunteer childcare assistants, among other measures.

We will continue this work. At the festival, I announced – to enthusiastic applause – that the Federation Council had just approved legislation, drafted at your instruction, increasing maternity benefits for female students and postgraduates nearly fourfold. This is by no means a token gesture but a substantial measure, warmly received by student families.

Furthermore, we have introduced landmark legislation into our legal framework – defining the term “student family.” This establishes the legal foundation for further targeted policies. I firmly believe this demographic policy holds significant potential.

Encouragingly, last year saw a 17 percent increase in student families, indicating tangible progress in this direction – as you noted, there is widespread engagement with this issue. Of course, this is only the beginning, and we will continue advancing this effort.

The Federation Council maintains oversight of the programme modernising children’s recreational infrastructure. While the funding may seem modest, even the Finance Ministry does not question these allocations – it is treated as a protected expenditure. Over three years of implementation – as I previously reported to you, and thank you for your support – 67 regions have participated: 254 new buildings have been constructed, and 98 facilities (including canteens and medical stations) have undergone major refurbishment, addressing critical infrastructure decay. We have created 150,000 new places for children’s recreation, with further progress to come.

Moreover, regional authorities are now fully engaged in this initiative. Credit goes to all governors. Illegally privatised camps – often situated in prime locations – are being returned to state ownership.

Some businesses are voluntarily transferring camps to regional authorities. For example, Novolipetsk Steel Company, a highly prosperous enterprise, handed over the once-famous Prometheus children’s camp at the governor’s request – though in a severely dilapidated state. The governor has shown commendable initiative, and we are assisting in its restoration. Admittedly, such attitudes raise serious questions about how such neglect could occur.

There is one other issue that needs our attention. Following the Government Hour meeting with the Sports Minister, senators proposed introducing a sports certificate for children of certain age, a young athlete card admissible at athletic clubs and classes. Of course, we need to run the numbers and work this proposal through.

First, this is important because, as you have mentioned, commercialisation has significantly affected children’s sports as well. This card would allow children from all families regardless of income or athletic aspirations to attend sports clubs.

Second, Mr Putin, we would finally get accurate data on how many children are involved in sports activities, a real and objective information to further develop this area. We will present these proposals to you and ask for your support.

Your speech at the St Petersburg Economic Forum was substantive and powerful, and is being perceived as an economic message to the Government, the Federal Assembly, and business community. Our sector-specific committees are working with relevant agencies on legislative support to implement your instructions. Work is underway.

For example, you emphasised the need for up-to-date regulations for the platform economy. By the way, Russia is one of the few countries with its own world-class digital marketplaces. Our own independent marketplaces.

It is clearly time to regulate this sphere. The Government submitted a draft law to the Federal Assembly, which we approved. Of course, it is being criticised, and no one is happy with it, but we passed it as a trial balloon, a place to start with.

Creating a regulatory framework for marketplaces is a process that will take time and require careful consideration. Most importantly, we should not cause harm. These are incredibly convenient and economically important services. We will tread lightly. Mr Putin, our specialised committees took part in drafting the first package of laws and submitted numerous suggestions. Nearly all of them have been taken under advisement, but much still remains to be done.

Regarding cultural and historical heritage sites, which you also prioritise, the Federation Council has developed and passed several laws. We teamed up with the Ministry of Culture and dived deeply into that matter. A unified register of cultural heritage sites has been created that has 160,000 sites on it, with 14,000 sites in unsatisfactory condition, and 10,000 in need of immediate restoration or conservation. We will work with the Ministry of Culture and regional authorities to draft a programme based on financial capabilities in order to speed this process up.

Our international interactions have been quite dynamic. The truth is there can be no talk of isolation. There is great interest in Russia with 45 visits, 14 visits, with over 115 official international contacts made by the upper house, the parliament.

The Russia-Belarus Interregional Forum went very well. Thank you and President Lukashenko for your greetings. They were very well received.

I would also like to consult with you. The Federation Council has prepared a draft law regulating cadet education. There are already 152 such educational institutions. They are very important for patriotic upbringing and everything related to it. In our view, these schools need special regulation and proper conditions for the students. Once we finalise the draft law, we will submit it for you to review it, and I am asking you to support it.

We have approved the autumn session plan, and it will be busy as well. The spirits are high. I am very pleased with how senators approach their work and their respective regions. We have a strong and professional team in the chamber of regions.

Thank you again for your support.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Please convey my sincere gratitude to all members of the Federation Council.

Valentina Matviyenko: Thank you, Mr Putin. I will definitely pass that along.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

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